Sign



Sepp '2 1930.*V w. l.. LowRY SIGN Filed NOV. 29. 1929 %a J nNvEN-ron Patented Slept. 2A, 193

`UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALLACE LEON LOWRY, 0F JOHNSON CITY, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO AIRWAY RE- VOLVING SIG-N COMPANY, OF JOHNSON CITY, TENNESSEE SIGN Application led November 29, 1929. Serial No. 410,612.

My present invention has reference to outdoor signs.

My object is the provision of awind actuated rotatable sign which shall be of an eX- tremely simplenature and which includes an elongated substantially rectangular body upon' whose opposite faces there is imprinted advertising matter and whose diagonally opposed ends have extensions in the nature of fins or wings that are successively engaged by air currents to rotate the body so that'the advertisement on the opposed sides thereof will be successively brought to displayposition;

A further object is the provision of a sign of this character in which the body, as well as the wings or fins are made of light material and constructed in a simple but novel manner, there being brace means for holding the sides of the body in proper spaced relation, a post upon which the body is mounted, anti-friction bearings between the post and body,'rneans for constantly feeding a lubricant to the anti-friction bearings and wherein the post is constructed of removably assof ciated .sections whereby the sign may be arranged at any desired elevation and also whereby the sections of the post may be readily disassociated and arranged against the body for storage or for shipment.

ToV the attainment of the foregoing the invention consists in the improvement hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

'In the drawings: r,Figure l is a face view of a sign in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. A rFigure 3 is a sectional viewon the line 3-3 of Figure 1. f

Figure l is a detail sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Y Figure A5 is a perspective View of one of the spacer and brace members for the sign. The sign is constructed wholly of metal and has its outer surface treated with a coating of paint or the like to preserve the same from the elements.l The body of the sign is in the nature of an elongated and substantially rectangular hollow member. The body, in-

dicated broadly by the numeral l, is preferably of light, thin but strong metal sheets. The body includes two face plates 2-2, respectively. These plates each have their ends lianged in opposite directions to provide the ends proper for the body. These ends are indicated by the numeral 3 and, as clearly disclosed by the drawings,extend a suitable distance beyond the ends of the face plates with which they contact. The extending portions of the ends are bent over each other so that the same are substantially U-shaped in cross section, as indicated by the numeral 4;, and these U-shaped portions receive therein the second and outwardly bent ends 5 of the face plates 2. The parts 4 and 5 provide the diagonally opposed ends of the body with wings or fins which are contacted by currents of air for rotating the light body l.

By reference to the drawings it will be noted that the wings or lins are of a less length than that of the face plates, this being provided for by slitting the inner edges and outer corners of the substantially U-shaped clamping guides for the extensions 5, and, therefore, the plates proper project beyond the ends of the wings or ns a sufficient distance to be contacted by and to have bolted thereto the side flanges of the top and bottom plates 6 and 7 for the body. The flanges of the top and bottom plates are substantially U-shaped in cross-section and receive the said projections of the face plates therein, as clearly disclosed by Figure 2 ofthe drawings.

The face plates 2 are held properly spaced away from each other through the medium ofspacer and brace elements of a novel construction. One of these elements is best illustrated by Figure 5 of the drawings and by reference thereto it will be noted that the said element comprises an angle metal meniber 8 that has its flanges, adjacent its ends, cut away to afford right angularly disposed projecting tongues 9, respectively, and these tongues pass through suitable slots or openings in the face plates and are bent against the outer surfaces thereof. The elements 9 thus afford two right-angularly disposed shoulders 10 that are in contact with the inner surfaces of the face plates 2 and such closed nipple 12, similar to thatV employed in connection with alemite or llike grease guns andthe pan or reservoir 11 is designed to be filled with grease or like lubricant. If desired, the inner facev of the nipplemaybe provided with a spring influenced fiat valve, although the ballfvalve' in the nipplewill evidently be` found suiiicient to prevent the escape of the lubricant from the.pan or reservoir;

Fixed to the bottom of the pan or reservoir 11 there is a plate 13 provided with a central round opening, the said plate being formed with a round rconcavity that `surroundsthe opening and 'provides a raceway for anti-friction' balls 14. On these balls rests the shouldered portion 15 of a bearing sleeve 16... The bearing sleeve passes through the plat-e 13 and through the bottom of the pan or reservoir 11 and rvthere yis rcentrally passed lthrough the bearing sleeve 1.6 a pivot in the nature of an. elongated headed bolt 17 which has its threaded end engaged by anut.

The bolt also passes through a central opening in a cap member' 18 which is screwed on the inner` end of' a tubular post section 19. By' reference to 'Figure 2 of thedrawings it will be seen lthat the head of the bolt does not contact withthey capVmember 'andv that the nut on the bolt merely rests on the top of the bearing sleeve 16. This affords a longitudinal movement of the sign onthe'pivot bolt 17 which will prevent the binding of the said pivot bolt should the sign be' raised or lowered by the influence of wind currents.

The post section 19 is passed.. throughan opening in the bottom 7 and likewise through afwasher member 20 which-is fixed on the inner facel of theibottom 7. vThe outer end of the post 19 terminates only a slight distance below the bodyvl and is threadedand engaged by a coupling 21 which likewise has screwed therein another tubularv post section 22. Obviously any' desired number of post sections may be employed and Vit issimply necessary to unscrew the couplings 21 torremove certain or all of the sections, except the sections 19 of the posts and thereby regulate the elevation of. the sign or permit of the post sections being arranged against the sides of the sign when 'the device is to* be stored or shipped.

. On the top 6 to the opposite sides of the nipple 12 there are arranged longitudinally extendingV plates 23. These plates are preferably scroll shape and addto the ornamentality of the improvement. v

Both faces or sides 2 of the sign have imprinted thereon suitable advertising indicia 24. This indicia, of course, varies in accord? ance with the matter to be advertised.

YIt will be apparent. fromA the foregoing whenrread in connection with the drawings Y that I have produced a sign which is of a light construction, -which is weather resisting andV which will be readily revolvedb-y [air currents to display the advertising matter 24 on the opposite faces'thereof. It will be further apparentthat thelubricant from the pan or reservoir V11 will be fed through the opening in the. bottom? of the pan. Orreservoir to the anti-friction balls 14;, to constantly lubricatethese elements as well as the racewaysv therefor. It will be furtherapparent that the improvement may be cheaply constructed and commercialized,

- It will'benoted that by forming the ins or wings of double plates the same are materially reinforced and strengthened to prevent the bending thereof. by force of air contact therewith.

Obviously I do not'wish tovbe restricted to the precise details herein setv forth and, therefore, hold myself entitled to make such changes therefrom as fairly fally withinthe scope of what I claim.

Having described the. invention@ claim:

1. yIn a sign ofthe class described, anelongated substantially rectangular hollow'body constructedv of thin metal and having its diagonally opposed ends formed-with ,prof jections-Vthat.providens which are designed to'fbe successivelyA contacted by air currents, right angular elements comprising brace means between the face plates of the body,

said elements having their flanges formed with .extending tongues which are received throughjand bent over the face plates ofthe body, a lpost comprisingV removable sections centrally received .through the vbottom ofthe body, an oilreservoir inthe top ofthe body,

ay valve controlled nipplev for' admitting a lubricant into the receptacle, a. plate fixed on the bottom of the receptacle'and having al central opening, a depression-around the opening providinga raceway for anti-friaV pivot bolt` ypassing through the cap-andk through. the bearing sleeve. and having its end engagedbyanut. v f 2. A sign of the class described,comprising van elongated substantially rectangular hollow body made up of Vthin metalg' plates,

to .include face plates whose ends are formed vwith angle extensions vthat 'afford the ends of the body and project beyond diagonally opposed corners of the body, the said projections being arranged in lapping relation and the outer projection being slitted at its juncture With the face plates and vat its corners and bent over the plate contacting therewith, top and bottom plates having cross sectionally U-shaped flanges to receive therein the projecting edges of the face plates and bolted thereto, spacer means between the face plates, an oil reservoir in the top of the body at the center thereof, valve controlled means for feeding a lubricant therein, a supporting post comprising removable coupled pipe members, one o Which is received through the bottom .of the body, a Washer on the bottom through Which the post section passes, a cap screwed on the outer end of the said post setcion, a bearing sleeve providing a ball race resting on the cap, a bearing plate providing a cooperating ball race fixed on the bottom of the reservoir and a longitudinally movable headed pivot passing through the cap and the bearing sleeve.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WALLACE LEON LOl/VRY. 

